DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: Provides guidance and related services to individuals participating in the various departmental programs. The duties involve the responsibilities of assisting program participants in alternatives to incarceration and victim’s needs and concerns. The incumbent is called upon to exercise sound professional judgment in formulating and carrying out individual problems faced by participants. Work is performed under general supervision of the Director of Genesee Justice. Supervision may be exercised over the work of subordinate staff. Does related work, as required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:
Promotes the Community Service Program as an alternative to incarceration through presentations within the community;
Promotes the Pre-Sentence Diversion Program as an alternative to the traditional justice route in select felony and misdemeanor cases, through presentations within the community and designing of specific programs that address the needs of the victim, the community, and the defendant;
Communicates with other departments such as Probation, Courts, etc. during the various phases of the Program/s;
Interviews clients and makes appropriate referrals to community agencies based upon the clients’ needs;
Monitors the clients’ progress and compliance with the various Program Terms and conditions by making phone contacts, agency visits, or client home visits;
Maintains records and logs relative to the client’s progress;
Completes court documents when client finished community service assignment;
Handles discipline problems as they arise;
Provides intensive victim assistance to victims of violent and non-violent crimes;
Interviews and assists the victim’s needs and concerns and financial loses;
Prepares in-depth reports for the district attorney on the victim’s recommendations and attitude towards case direction and sentencing of the offender;
Assists victims in gathering information relative to restitution requests;
Carefully monitors a victim’s case as it progresses through the criminal justice system;
Helps to prepare child-victims for grand jury and/or trial in matters of child sexual abuse cases;
Works closely with the Y.W.C.A. Domestic Violence Program in coordinating the Batterer’s Intervention Program.
The above examples of duties are intended only as illustrative of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statement of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related of a logical assignment to the position.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND/OR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Good knowledge of the Criminal Justice system; good knowledge of community agencies, facilities and services which can be utilized as Alternatives to Incarceration and Victim Assistance; good organizational skills; good public speaking skills; working knowledge of NYS Penal Laws and Criminal Procedure Law; ability to compile and maintain reports; ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing; ability to monitor and enforce each client’s community service program as ordered by the court; ability to work well with a wide variety of community resource agencies; good discretion and judgment; initiative; resourcefulness; dependability.
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is also required to drive a vehicle.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from high school or possession of an appropriate equivalency diploma recognized by the NYS Department of Education, AND:
- Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Human Services, Psychology, Education, or a related field;
OR: - Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Human Services, or a related field AND two (2) years of full-time, paid experience in a criminal justice agency or other agency whose duties shall have involved counseling, case management or client supervision;
PART-TIME, PAID EXPERIENCE WILL BE PRO-RATED AS APPROPRIATE.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT AND CONTINUED EMPLOYMENTPossession of a valid New York State driver’s license at the time of appointment and maintenance of such license throughout the tenure of employment in the position.